The Saga of the Ford Family

The Ford Family: An Important

Chapter in American History

By Tom Morrow

     If ever there was a story deserving of a Hollywood movie, the saga of the Ford family is at the top of that list.

     Everyone knows Henry Ford was a pioneer in automobile manufacturing, but while he didn’t invent the automobile, Ford was the first automaker to mass produce vehicles. He created the assembly line, making it possible to roll out dozens of automobiles each day. Nearly everyone in American could afford a Model T. Accordingly, cities, counties, states, and the federal government, had to build streets and highways for cars, thus connecting the population across America. People who never had been more than 25 miles from home, were free to venture 35 to 40 miles in little more than an hour.

      But, as his empire expanded, Henry Ford became a troubled man. He was anti-Semitic and said as much in scathing editorials in his weekly newspaper distributed nationally through his dealerships. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, he was an isolationist, vehemently railing against America getting involved in any war. He made it known his successor would be Edsel, yet, to coin a phrase, never really gave his son “the keys to the car.” Despite Edsel being the president of the company, Henry’s constant criticisms and rejection of ideas helped drive Edsel to an early grave. Examples: Henry steadfastly believed all Americans really needed was the 1915 Model T, one of the company’s biggest all-time sellers. It was Edsel who finally persuaded his father to introduce the 1927 Model A. Then Edsel went to the mat, finally convincing his father the 1932 V-8 engine was the auto power plant of the future.

     When Edsel wanted to offer multiple colors on auto exteriors like other companies, Henry flatly rejected the idea declaring, “Buyers can have any color they want as long as it’s black!”

     There was a dark side to Henry. He was surrounded by a gang of thugs posing as “security.” The “bodyguards” were led by Harry Bennett, who gained tremendous influence over the old man, coming between father and son. Henry never realized the extent of Bennett’s power. In reality, he had control of the company by intimidating executives and workers and shutting Edsel out.

     In 1943, Edsel died of stomach cancer, leaving the old man back in charge, but Bennett continued to control Ford. When the war started, the company was not meeting Washington’s demand for aircraft, tanks, various other vehicles, and armaments. Realizing the problem, the War Department took Lt. Henry Ford II, the grandson, out of the Navy and placed him in charge of the company. One of the first decisions the young executive, (who became known as “Hank the Deuce”) made was fire Bennett and his gang of thugs.

     While Henry, his son, Edsel, and three grandsons, Henry II, Benson, and William, all made historic 20^th century contributions that revolutionized the American auto industry, the sweeping accomplishments of Edsel have nearly been lost to history.

     Like his father, Edsel was an inventor and transportation visionary. He introduced the Mercury, Lincoln automobiles along with countless innovations.

     So, the next time you hear that low rumble of a V-8 engine, think of Edsel.

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